英语问题关于asThe setting sun is reflected from the windows of the

英语问题关于as
The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man's abode; the snow melts before its door as early in the spring
上面这句话最后一个as是什么意思啊 总觉得最后一个as是多余的直接early in the spring不就行了吗 那么为什么要as?as early in the spring又如何理解啊